I am finding it hard to focus on work at the moment as, like most other people I am running around shopping for Christmas and getting very excited. A couple of years ago Dave, myself and my 4 children decided not to spend quite so much money at Christmas on presents for each other and focus more on the real meaning of Christmas and the most important part for us is being together as a family. We all realise how blessed we are to have each other and have healthy, happy lives. I think that, partly because of my past challenges with breast cancer, my family realised early on that possessions and lots of money do not necessarily mean happy contented lives. Money can take away a lot of the stress we all suffer today, money can buy nice holidays and pay bills etc, but money cannot help make someone happy if they are lonely or sick.

Dave and I had a conversation not long ago about how, years ago, our grandmothers did not have an easy time of it. They did not have washing machines, tumble dryers, microwaves, telephones, cars and other modern conveniences we take so much for granted today. Food seemed to taste nicer back then and we both have memories of tables full of wonderful food, healthy food, not fast-food that so many of us eat today. Home made pies and conservatives, enough food to feed an army. Yet, bills still had to be paid, but I have no recollection of my grandparents worrying about paying credit card bills or being behind with the rent. How did they manage I have often wondered. Maybe it is because they did not have all the things we want so much today, want and not need, two different things!

I believe we should all try and simplify our lives in some way, take away some of the stress we talk so much about.  There is good stress and bad stress, we all know that, but in order to eliminate some of the bad stress think of ways you can carry on your everyday life without creating additional stress — I am sure we can all manage that if we think about it!